It's Only the End of the World Read online

  “Frankie had invented all sorts of terrible stuff for them. A drug called the Atlas Serum, which made soldiers stronger, more aggressive and resistant to injury or illness. Microchips implanted in their flesh, so Frankie could be downloaded onto them and communicate directly with troop leaders. Exoskeletons that turned men into walking tanks. New biological weapons to wipe out enemy forces.” Gerry threw up his hands in disgust. “I had to do something about it. Your mum didn’t like the idea, but I talked her into letting me investigate.”

  “Mum knew what you were up to?” The boy grasped the edge of his desk.

  Your mother is a lot tougher than she looks.

  “So what happened?” Despite himself, Charlie was fascinated by this new side to his father.

  “I hacked Frankie, of course. Found out Manticorps had programmed him to do whatever they ordered. So I rejigged him to obey me instead.” Gerry fiddled awkwardly with the bandana round his neck. “Then I had to get him out of the Marginal Science Division before Manticorps realised what I’d done and reset him.”

  “I don’t understand.” Charlie frowned. “If this AI is so dangerous, why didn’t you just shut it down entirely?”

  “His intelligence might be artificial, but it’s real,” Gerry scolded. “As far as I was concerned, Frankie was alive and I couldn’t simply kill him.” He stroked his moustache nervously. “Frankie shut down the building’s security systems and let me in. I smuggled him out in one of their own military chips, then went back and wiped every piece of Manticorps research from their databases, including the cloud.” He ran a hand down his face. “While I was doing that, the entire research team turned up to show the vice president of Manticorps their latest development. I had to override the security systems and lock them in their labs, so I could escape.” Gerry’s lip trembled. “Only Frankie short-circuited the building and set it on fire. The scientists I trapped died of smoke inhalation.” A tear slid down his cheek. “I didn’t know he’d do something so extreme. I swear.”

  “So you destroyed your family and set free a monster just to relive your glory days? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  There was a crunching sound. Charlie was gripping the desk so tightly the front had fractured. Jagged splinters protruded from his bleeding fingers but the boy didn’t seem to notice.

  “That’s solid wood.” Daffodil’s eyes widened. “Howd’ya manage to break it?”

  “Frankie isn’t free,” Gerry went on obliviously. “While he was still under my control, I programmed him to never take another life or do anything to cause harm to a sentient being.” He gave an exhausted sigh. “But the damage was done. Manticorps know only a handful of people on earth are capable of hacking Frankie, and I’m one of them. With their scientists dead and their research gone, they need the chip containing him so they can start again – and they’ll stop at nothing to retrieve it.”

  “So where are you and Frankie now? And how come he’s able to talk with Daffodil?”

  “Daffodil?” Gerry looked surprised. “Is that what she’s calling herself?”

  “Feel free to enlighten me ’bout my real name,” the girl grunted. “I seem to have forgotten it.”

  “Daffodil will do for now.” Gerry rapped on the screen. “Kid? Lift up your hair and show Charlie your neck.”

  “What? That is beyond creepy.”

  “Please.”

  The girl reluctantly bowed her head. There was a small bulge at the base of her skull.

  “See that little lump?” Gerry said. “It’s the chip containing Frankie.”

  3

  “Hey, buddy!” Daffodil sat up again. “I ain’t at all comfortable with this. Who gave you the right?” Her icy eyes narrowed. “Is that why I don’t remember nothin about my past? ’Cause the first thing I recall is standin in some room, dressed like a traffic light, with Frankie givin me directions to this place and a message for Chaz here. He promised to fill me in later, so I went along with it.”

  Charlie raised an eyebrow and she scratched her cheek awkwardly.

  “Didn’t realise he was a mass murderer at the time…”

  “I can’t give you the answers you want right now.” Gerry looked abashed. “But I’ll admit your memory has been messed up a bit.”

  “I’ll mess with your face!” Daffodil raged. “What kind of monster are you, stickin something like that in my neck without askin first?”

  “That is kinda crappy, Dad,” Charlie agreed.

  “You have to trust me, Daffodil,” Gerry pleaded. “And you can do much more than communicate with Frankie. He can access any piece of technology for you. Security systems. Cash points. Databases. You have some incredible resources at your fingertips.”

  “OK. That does sound pretty cool,” the girl admitted. “Even if I didn’t understand a word you said.”

  “For a start, it meant you could give Charlie this message without it being intercepted,” Gerry continued. “Manticorps’ operatives will be watching the house, but hopefully, it will look like Charlie’s finally found a girlfriend and she’s sneaking in to visit him.”

  “Hey!” Charlie flushed. “What do you mean, finally found a girlfriend?”

  “He means anyone who’d date you would have to be more desperate than a Mexican outlaw,” Daffodil giggled. “You ain’t exactly boyfriend material.”

  Charlie ignored her. “Why wait a month to contact me, Dad?”

  “Frankie has been planning an alternative way to fight back against Manticorps’ operatives. You know, now that he’s not allowed to just kill them. We had to prepare a few things before we got you involved.”

  “Got me involved?” The boy gave a start. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “Neither do I,” Gerry said miserably. “But I’m no longer part of Frankie’s scheme. If our family are ever to be together again, you’re the one who’ll have to destroy Manticorps.” He looked pained. “It’s a tall order, I admit. Those rogues have their own private army.”

  “Me?” Charlie goggled. “You do realise I’m only fourteen?”

  “That’s why Frankie and Daffodil are going to help.”

  “Great.” The girl pouted. “Somethin else I wasn’t consulted about.”

  “This is ridiculous!” Charlie stammered.

  “Frankie says you have certain… abilities that will prove invaluable to him.” Gerry clasped his hands together. “And his intelligence dwarfs ours. He doesn’t make mistakes. Or… not often, anyway.”

  “I play the PS4 and watch Netflix, Dad.” The boy folded his arms. “I always come fifth at sports. I’m not bloody Superman.”

  “I’ll second that, Dumbledore,” Daffodil added. “This kid ain’t exactly the adventurous type.”

  “Dumbledore?” Charlie squinted at her. “You didn’t know what a mobile was but you’ve seen the Harry Potter movies?”

  “I’ve read the books, stupid. I’ll explain later.”

  “My night is getting more and more surreal.” Charlie turned back to the computer. “Are you sure about this, Dad?”

  “Not at all. I wanted you kept out of the picture altogether, but Frankie insists you and… eh… Daffodil are the only people who can help him pull this off. How he intends to do it is a mystery to me, but apparently my interfering or giving you more information will disrupt whatever idea he’s cooked up.”

  “What if that scheme involves me and Chaz getting killed, you hairy-nosed old goat?”

  “Hey!” Charlie elbowed her in the ribs. “That’s my father you’re talking to.”

  “Look. I’ve used every safeguard I know to make Frankie incapable of harming anyone, and he’s programmed to protect you both.” Gerry still looked utterly wretched. “If you succeed in defeating Manticorps, I can come home. Frankie will show Daffodil how to remove his chip and we’ll tell her who she is.”

  “Still don’t see what’s wrong with right now, bub.”

  “We have our reasons.”

  “And if your son fails?�
�� The girl scowled. “’Cause it don’t look like he can tie his shoelaces without a manual.”

  “Then we’ll all be dead, so it won’t matter.” Gerry looked around nervously. “I’ve got to go. Frankie gave me a strict time limit.”

  “I thought you were his boss,” Daffodil sneered. “Not his sidekick.”

  “Yeah, hold on, Dad,” Charlie said. “I’ve got more questions.”

  “And I don’t have the answers. Frankie is running the show now.”

  “So that’s it?” Charlie couldn’t believe his ears. “You’re just buggering off?”

  “And you ain’t gonna tell me nothin about my past?” Daffodil spat. “Not even a hint?”

  “Frankie will explain everything soon, I promise.”

  “I’m done with this clown.” The girl turned away in disgust. “Seems like the best thing he did for you was vamoose.”

  “Good luck, son. I love you.”

  Gerry reached out a hand to switch off the link and Charlie tilted his head. On his dad’s palm was a message in red pen.

  Frankie is fighting his programming.

  Don’t trust him.

  The screen went blank.

  4

  “Wait!” Charlie grabbed Daffodil. “Make him come back!”

  “Got no idea how.” She gave the computer a listless pat. “Was that jerk for real? Are the two of us supposed to take on some giant evil corporation on our lonesome?”

  “Jeez,” Charlie groaned. “My dad’s a criminal on the run and wants me to follow the instructions of some glorified laptop.” He gritted his teeth. “I can’t do it. I’m just a kid.”

  “Aw, if you were any more cautious you’d have your own shell.” Daffodil tapped her neck. “I say we talk to Frankie. I got a few choice words for him and most of them ain’t printable.”

  “Don’t you dare!”

  “You gotta be wondering what he wants us to do,” she said. “Or why your dad sounded like Frankie was in charge of him and not the other way round.”

  “No.” Charlie flopped face down onto his bed. “No, I’m not. I just want this to go away. I want you to go away.”

  “So what are these extraordinary abilities Frankie thinks you have?” Daffodil plopped down next to him. “Can you fly? Breathe underwater? Run at super speed?” She nudged him conspiratorially. “You got a cape? Or do ya just wear underpants on top of your jeans?”

  “I don’t have any special abilities!” Charlie put the pillow over his head. “I’m completely average in every way.”

  “Yeah, yeah. And you always come in fifth at sports.” The girl wasn’t put off. “Sounds like you do it on purpose.”

  “You’re a moron. Now sod off.”

  “Frankie has us both over a barrel, my friend.” Daffodil jerked the pillow away and pulled him to his feet. “And your dad, too, from what I heard. But I see how much you miss him and how protective you are of your mom. No matter how crazy this story seems, you won’t ignore it, in case he’s telling the truth.”

  “How can you act so chirpy after what you just heard?”

  “’Cause, if I didn’t, I’d be like you.”

  She opened the window and peered into the darkness. Somewhere, a dog began barking.

  “Anyhow, I reckon I’ll never find out who I am unless I play ball.” She hooked one leg over the sill. “Now kiss me.”

  “What?” Charlie spluttered. “I don’t even like you.”

  “Charming.” Daffodil grasped the drainpipe beside the window. “If someone from Manticorps is watching the house, it’ll look like you’re sneakin your girlfriend out late at night, just like your paw said. Even average guys do that. Though you seem dead set on being below average.”

  Before the boy could protest, she grabbed his head and pressed her lips against his. They were soft and tasted of prawn cocktail crisps.

  “Not bad.” She let go and winked. “See you later, alligator.” She pointed to his hand. “And take those splinters out before they go septic. Splinters you obviously can’t feel.”

  Then she slid down the drainpipe and into darkness.

  *

  Three gardens away, a balding man lowered his night-vision goggles.

  “Looks like Charlie’s finally pulled, Victor,” he said. “Didn’t think he had it in him. That sad sack’s not the most sociable type.”

  “Doesn’t explain why our listening devices have suddenly stopped working,” his companion replied. “I’m calling it in.”

  “Don’t go off the deep end, boss. Manticorps will send a fake council worker round in a couple of days to plant new ones. Then we can waste another month listening to that boring kid ignoring his mum while she talks about The X Factor.” He put his night-vision goggles away. “If those two know anything about Gerry Ray’s whereabouts, I’m the Queen of Sheba.”

  “I don’t agree,” Victor said. “A midnight visitor and all our surveillance equipment suddenly going dark is too much of a coincidence. The vice president will want to know.”

  “Rather you than me. That woman is terrifying. Even fire couldn’t kill her.”

  “Comes with the territory.” Victor rose up from behind the bush where he had been hiding. He was frighteningly large, with a scar running round his throat like a noose. “It’s high time we took that family in for some proper questioning.”

  5

  Charlie tossed and turned fitfully. At 7.00 a.m. he got up, dressed and checked on his mum. She was snoring quietly so he went for a walk to clear his head.

  The winter sun was creeping over the rooftops, dripping light between the chimney pots, and the streets of his quiet neighbourhood were almost deserted. It suddenly struck Charlie that Daffodil couldn’t have had anywhere to go. He might dislike her, but the fact that she had probably spent the night in some bitterly cold doorway made him feel even worse.

  He bought a sandwich at the corner shop and sat on a park bench at the end of his lane, lost in melancholy.

  Last night had to be some kind of elaborate hoax. Had to be.

  But his father wouldn’t pull such a cruel stunt. He must be telling the truth.

  Besides, things that had never made sense before seemed to fit into this dreadful new scenario. The fact that Gerry had vanished without saying goodbye. That he’d left them with no money. The way his mum had become withdrawn and jumpy, unwilling to let Charlie out of her sight. He had thought it was because she was depressed and lonely. Now he could see a different reason.

  She was afraid.

  Suddenly his dreary street seemed an altogether more sinister place. The twitching curtains at number 10. The old guy from number 12, always out clipping his hedge, whether it needed trimming or not. The big green van with ‘Gregory’s Plumbing’ on the side, parked a few doors down.

  The sandwich stopped on its way to Charlie’s lips.

  He had never paid the vehicle much attention because it was always there. Now he wondered what kind of plumber didn’t ever get called out on a job.

  The boy breathed deeply and evenly, trying to calm himself. It was no good. His parents had lied about their past and his dad was on the run. His house was being watched by a sinister corporation. And a dangerous entity that created weapons and killed people wanted him to team up with some nutty girl and act like an action hero.

  He felt like a volcano threatening to erupt.

  “Just keep calm,” he murmured to himself. “Think of kittens or something.”

  But he couldn’t. Lately, it seemed his mind worked in a different way. Logically. Methodically.

  And something else was bothering him.

  His father’s story didn’t ring true.

  Gerry and his mum had given up their computer-hacking crusade so he could have a normal life. That sounded like the decent, loving parents he knew. So why would his father throw it all away by breaking into the Marginal Science Division? If he was that good, surely he could have downloaded Frankie remotely and wiped Manticorps’ data without setting foot in th
e place. It didn’t make sense.

  Cogs and gears shifted in the boy’s head.

  “Hang on.”

  His chest tightened as everything fell into place.

  “I know what you were really after, Dad. And it wasn’t Frankie.”

  He straightened up and ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it down. Now another ordeal awaited him.

  He had to confront his mother and find out exactly what she knew.

  *

  When he let himself into the house, Daffodil McNugget was sitting in the kitchen with his mum, both laughing and sipping steaming mugs of coffee.

  “There you are!” His mother looked relieved. “Never known you to be up before one o’ clock during the holidays.” She stretched and yawned. “Me? I’ve just had the best sleep in ages.”

  “That’s… eh… good.” Charlie glared at Daffodil. She had dark circles under her eyes but, apart from that, seemed as irritatingly chirpy as the night before.

  “Your friend Daffodil here came round to visit, but you were out.” His mum got up and gave her son a hug. “So we’ve been having a nice chat and I’m making a spot of brunch.” She indicated a large pan of bacon and eggs sizzling on the stove. “Daff says she recently moved to Scotland and you’ve been showing her around. That is so nice.”

  I am going to kill you! Charlie mouthed over his mother’s shoulder, fighting down his ire. Daffodil merely grinned and blew him a kiss.

  “I came to see if you’d like to check out the science exhibition at the museum with me,” she said. “Suddenly I have quite a fascination with technology.”

  “I’m busy,” he replied brusquely, clenching both fists behind his back.

  “Chuckles!” His mum let go, cheeks scarlet. “Don’t be so rude.” She sat back down and patted Daffodil’s shoulder. “He must have got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.”

  “You call him Chuckles?” Daffodil stifled a smirk.

  “Oh, he used to be a happy wee soul,” Marion replied regretfully. “Before he turned into a teenager.”